sdn1977 said:
In CA its not legal since a prescriber must have a legitimate relationship with the pt which includes a physical examination & documentation in a medical record - none of which can happen on yourself.
Are you saying that it is not possible for a person to perform a physical exam on themselves? Or that a specific statute in CA prevents a doctor from performing an exam on themselves? Or that a specific statute exists which prohibits a doctor from documenting info in a chart on themselves? Or that a specific statute exists that prohibits a doctor for prescribing for hmself? If these statutes do not exist, there is nothing I see which would prohibit a doctor from prescribing for himself.
In Oklahoma, there are statutes that prohibit a prescriber from writing or dispensing CDS (Schedule II-V) for himself or a family member within 2 degrees of blood or marriage. Non-CDS drugs are fair game though.
I know I can check my own BP, listen to my heart and lungs, look in my oropharynx, check for edema, etc with normal palpation and equipment. And before anyone says "well, you can't look in your ears or eyes", there actually is equipment with which a person can exam his/her own TM and eyes with the assistance of optical equipment which transmits images to televisions. I have personally examined my own ears and eyes with this equipment.
No way to check my own prostate (nor would I want to).
As long as a chart is kept, I don't think there is a problem with writing an occasional script for myself or family member. I just document any intervention in my family's charts I keep in a closet at home.
Now, because I am eternally curious, I contacted Marge (an analyst ?) at the CA medical Board, and posed the question to her as to whether a CA doctor can prescribe for himself. Her first response was 'No", but when I pressed for the statute, she quoted me CA Health and Service Code statutes for CDS drugs. We began researching, and she came up with CA Business and Profession statute 2239, which is as follows:
"2239. (a) The use or prescribing for or administering to himself or
herself, of any controlled substance; or the use of any of the
dangerous drugs specified in Section 4022, or of alcoholic beverages,
to the extent, or in such a manner as to be dangerous or injurious
to the licensee, or to any other person or to the public, or to the
extent that such use impairs the ability of the licensee to practice
medicine safely or more than one misdemeanor or any felony involving
the use, consumption, or self-administration of any of the substances
referred to in this section, or any combination thereof, constitutes
unprofessional conduct."
Section 4022 is as follows: "4022. "Dangerous drug" or "dangerous device" means any drug or device unsafe for self-use in humans or animals, and includes the following:
(a) Any drug that bears the legend: "Caution: federal law
prohibits dispensing without prescription," "Rx only," or words of
similar import.
(b) Any device that bears the statement: "Caution: federal law
restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a ____," "Rx
only," or words of similar import, the blank to be filled in with the
designation of the practitioner licensed to use or order use of the
device.
(c) Any other drug or device that by federal or state law can be
lawfully dispensed only on prescription or furnished pursuant to
Section 4006."
Thus, I conclude that in California, a doctor could write for himself non-CDS drugs as long as he is not dangerous to himself, and does not impair his ability to safely practice medicine.
